How does the number of people living in your house affect your application for financial aid? FAFSA?

Question

i live with my grandparents and they dont work but i did put them as members of my household. would i get more or less money with or without them?

Answer 1

if they are your guardians, the financial aid would be based on their income.  if there are other people in the house that are your guardians it would be their income, but you would probably still need to list your grandparents income too.  the amount you get is really only based on your guardians income though.

Answer 2

JDub is almost right.  Legal guardianship isn't enough.  

They would of had to adopt you to list their info on your fafsa rather than your parents.  If your grandparents live with your parents then you would not include them in the household becuase your grandparents likely have thier own income and your parents are not supporting them by over 50%.

Hope it helps.

Answer 3

If you live with your grandparents because your parents are deceased, then you would file your FAFSA with one in the household and use only your income data.  You would be considered independent.  When selected for verification, you would provide a copy of the parent death certificate.

If you live with your grandparents because they are your legal guardians, then you would file your FAFSA with one in the household and use only your income data.  When selected for verification, you would submit paperwork to the financial aid office about why your grandparents are your guardians (foster care, ward of court, etc.)

If you are already independent (by age), and you provide more than 50% of their support, then you would include them in your household size and use only your income information on the FAFSA.  If you do not provide 50% of their support, you will list one in the household size and use only your income information.

Good luck.